Tired after a long night

After spending all afternoon moving sheep and taking care of babies, I was ready to relax Sunday night but we decided we would go weigh Lilly and Lion before bed to make sure they were doing well before leaving them for the night.   When we got to the barn, we discovered that 67, who we'd been worried about all day, was definitely in labor.   I ran up to the house to get some towels and such when I discovered that 39 who we'd moved into the barn the day before was also in labor.  

On closer examination, 67 had a baby coming breach - rear first.  Jason pulled the lamb and then she went to work licking it.  This little ewe lamb seemed very weak and exhausted.  I went up to the house again and found that 39 had already delivered twins.  They seemed alright so I went back down to 67 who seemed to need more help.  While I was gone, 67 delivered a second twin breach - another little ewe lamb.  Mama then collapsed and didn't get up.  She must have been in labor all day which left her exhausted.  She still licked her babies but didn't have the energy needed to really care for them.   Jay left me with the lambs while he went to check on the other newborns.  

I didn't know what to do.  Both ewe lambs seemed to by dying - almost lifeless.  I rubbed them with towels and tried to keep them warm.  While I was worrying about this - I heard a noise from the other side of the barn.  54 was also definitely in labor!  It was overwhelming - almost comical.  

After another crazy half hour, we had a total of six new lambs.   I think five of them were born in 15 minutes.   Thankfully 39's babies needed little help and still are doing fine.   54 did well too without any assistance.

67's babies suddenly came to life just as we were thinking of giving them a dextrose injection.  All the time rubbing them with the towels and letting Mama lick as much as she could worked because they suddenly had enough energy to stand.  They wouldn't suck the bottle I had prepped for them but then Mama stood up after another hour or so, they both ate.   They are funny though - they would fall down seeming lifeless only to jump up again and go nurse.    It was crazy.  

Finally after running around in all directions and confirming that all lambs had at least most likely nursed, we weighed them all and went to bed.  We had to just trust that they would do what they needed to do.  

We dropped to bed exhausted at 2 am.  

At 6am, I woke up to check on all our new lambs.  Thankfully, they were all still alive and seemed OK so I went back to sleep.  

Monday morning, we did a more thorough check and weighed them all again.  Some lost weight but all were still alive and seemed OK so left them a few more hours and did another weight check on the ones that hadn't gained.  They all put on weight.

54 with one of her lambs resting

39's newborn lamb

39s newborn lamb

51 and her twins

Lilly and Lion

Thankfully we no more lambs born yesterday or last night.   Poppy and Petunia seem to be doing well.  We moved Giovanna and her two girls out to share a pen with 64 and her twin boys.  They adjusted well.  We moved 39, our next due up to the Giovanna's pen in the barn by the house.  67 has been acting strange all day and while we were worrying about her, 51 started labor right in front of us.

She delivered twins within 15 minutes - a boy and a girl.  Despite planning not to name boys, this one got the name Lion to go with Lilly his twin sister.  They were born at about 1 pm this afternoon and have had a slightly rocky day.  At first it seemed that neither were nursing but then the boy had a good long suckle while we pinned his mother against the wall.  After that he seemed to nurse on his own several more times.   

Lilly would not nurse so we pinned Mama again so I could pump a little colostrum.  Our handy Udderly EZ milker wasn't so handy so I had to hand express the milk.  Luckily I could aim it right into the bottle.  Lilly was thrilled with the bottle and drank all three ounces that I milked from her mom.  Since then, she got her strength and has been nursing all afternoon.  

Now her brother seems a little weak and won't nurse in front of us.  He also won't take a bottle but he seems warm and OK so we are waiting to see how he is.  

67 has been acting strange all day and shows little interest in food so she may be next.  54 was seen pawing the ground but then seems fine so we shall see who goes next.    It is nearly impossible to guess.

51 looking up at me with Lion and Lilly sleeping on top of each other